China’s charm offensive reaches new heights – a display of internal power with the Asian Games functioning as a global ‘name card of China’ for Asia.

Brand China had a virtual monopoly of the event’s sponsorship, giving the world a clear view of its growing economic prowess… Domestic companies made up 88 per cent of the Games’ sponsors and suppliers, even higher than the 59 per cent they achieved at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beijing – China’s dominance at the Guangzhou Asian Games has been overwhelming, and not just in its haul of gold medals. While its athletes have been breaking records in the field, the country’s commercial brands have been wiping the floor with their advertisements and endorsements.

Brand China had a virtual monopoly of the event’s sponsorship, giving the world a clear view of its growing economic prowess.

Domestic companies made up 88 per cent of the Games’ sponsors and suppliers, even higher than the 59 per cent they achieved at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Read the rest of this entry »

Chinese diver He Chong with children preparing to light a firecracker, which was raised by a platform to set the Games cauldron aflame during last night’s opening ceremony. — PHOTOS: ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

GUANGZHOU: The last Asian Games in Doha had an Arabian prince charging his horse up a steep ramp, and the Beijing Olympics had a famous gymnast ‘running’ around the rim of the Bird’s Nest.

Not to be outdone, Guangzhou had Olympic diving champion He Chong as the final torch-bearer at yesterday’s opening ceremony, which featured a whopping 6,000 performers.

Flanked by a boy and girl, he lit a giant firecracker, which was elevated by a platform to light the Asian Games cauldron, marking the start of 15 days of intense sporting combat.

This is the second time the continent’s biggest sporting event is being held in China, after the 1990 edition in Beijing. And just as the capital hosted the Olympics two years ago, that is the long-term vision for the country’s third-largest city.

But in the near future, this metropolis, nicknamed the ‘Flower City’, is hoping to bloom into one of Asia’s leading destinations.

Organisers spent six years preparing for the multi-sport Games – second only to the Olympics in scale – and sank in 122 billion yuan (S$24 billion) for the project. Read the rest of this entry »